Warren Gatland is among the final candidates to become Fiji's new head coach, with his former Wales defence chief Shaun Edwards also in contention for the role.
Gatland has not held a full-time position since leaving Wales for the second time midway through the 2025 Six Nations, having lost 14 Test matches in a row. The 63-year-old is understood to be in the running to take over the Flying Fijians, alongside former Springbok boss Jake White.
Edwards among contenders
Edwards, who recently joined England Women as a coaching consultant, is the third contender for a first head coaching job in Test rugby, according to reports in New Zealand. He left France's coaching team over the summer, despite winning a seventh Six Nations title as a coach earlier this year.
Fiji are looking for a replacement for Mick Byrne, who stepped down in April. Senirusi Seruvakula has been in interim charge since then, but a full-time appointment is expected next week.
Contract details and timeline
The job advert for the position says the contract begins on October 5 and runs through to the end of 2027. The Fiji Rugby Union has reportedly received 31 applications for the job.
According to reports in Fiji, a second round of interviews are due this week before finalising their choice ahead of an announcement next week. Having just ended their Pacific Nations Cup campaign last month, Fiji are back in camp next Monday to prepare for their Test against Japan in Tokyo on October 24.
They then head to Europe for the Nations Championship, where they will play France, Ireland and Italy in November.
Potential Wales reunion
Ex-Springboks boss White is reportedly the leading candidate. That would mark a first Test job for White since leading South Africa to World Cup glory in 2007. However, were it to be Gatland, then it could set up a World Cup reunion between the coach and Wales next year.
Fiji are Wales' likeliest opponents in the Round of 16 next year. If Steve Tandy's side finish second to England in Pool F and Fiji end up in the same position in Pool C, the two sides would meet in Sydney on October 23. It's also feasible that Wales and Fiji could meet in November's Nations Championship finals weekend.
The two nations have already played each other this year at Cardiff City Stadium. But with Wales currently fifth in the northern hemisphere table and Fiji sixth in the southern hemisphere table, they could easily play each other at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham next month.
Gatland hasn't held a full-time coaching job since leaving his post with Wales last year. His second stint with Wales was in stark contrast to his successful first spell, with Gatland winning just six of his 26 matches in charge. Since then, the New Zealander has worked in a short-term advisory role in Uruguayan rugby, working with the country's professional side, Penarol, for their Super Rugby Americas play-off finals last year.
He was also linked to Harlequins' director of rugby role earlier this year, but that ultimately did not materialise. Fiji are currently ranked 10th in the World Rugby rankings following their defeat to Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup final.
